Best Practices
Using Life Stories to Connect Veterans and Providers
The My Life, My Story patient-centered program uses veterans’ personal narratives by veterans to create a strong connection between patients and...
There are private sector companies that offer Internet-based access to secure video to connect physicians and mental health professionals. Given the significant variability in IT across correctional facilities, VA TJPs could expand their access into correctional facilities by deploying a web-based clinical video solution, similar to those currently available in the private sector. The technology already exists, and although taking this approach would need to be thoroughly vetted, it could significantly expand VA TJPs and eliminate several obstacles outlined in
this article.
Acknowledgments
Joel Rosenthal, PhD, national training director for Veterans Justice Outreach programs, has provided enduring support to VJPs. To Linda Maddy, the Portland VJO specialist—Being the first to do anything in the VA takes courage and tenacity. To Mark Correale, the NJ VJO specialist, for his tireless efforts. A special thanks to the VHA Innovation 669 team: Chuck Brown, Kit Teague, Trevor Davis, Sean O’Connor, Tracy Dekelboum, and William “Bear” Cannon for providing ongoing support to the Portland telejustice providers and distant jail staff. Mary Lu is providing editorial and research support on this and other telehealth-related projects. This article is dedicated to justice-involved men and women who have served our nation and to those VA employees who dare to be disruptive in order to reach them.
Author disclosures
The author reports no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Federal Practitioner, Frontline Medical Communications Inc., the U.S. Government, or any of its agencies. This article may discuss unlabeled or investigational use of certain drugs. Please review complete prescribing information for specific drugs or drug combinations—including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects—before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.